Durrington Walls/Stonehenge midwinter

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Ishmael I
Ishmael Dec 1, 2005 23:01:57
Replying to The Eternal

Avebury has a river to the southwest, the Wintebourne and Marden also has the Avon.
IF there were ashes scattered into the river at mid winter (and there is NO evidence yet) then some of the rivers would have been frozen most of the time.
At Durrington the ashes would have passed Stonehenge quickly whereas they could just as easily have been taken overland.
What about the Access to the henges by boat?
For what its worth I think these places were more orientated to the mid winter sunset.
It would only be a few days after solstice that you noticed there was more light in the day not less darkness at night.

T The Eternal
The Eternal Dec 1, 2005 23:18:13
Replying to Ishmael

Ishmael,

Thanks for that.
I reckon the ashes would have been transported from Durrington Walls, along the Avon, by boat, to the Avenue, then processed along that to Stonehenge for a ceremony, on the midwinter solstice, before final internment in the ground either there (for the elite), or elsewhere for the plebs. I can't "feel" a reason for deposition in the river.

Cheers,
TE.

T The Eternal
The Eternal Dec 1, 2005 23:23:00
Replying to Ishmael

Ishmael,

Wasn't the climate warmer then? The Avon isn't always frozen now, so wouldn't river transport have been easier then in December?
Out of interest, is there any hard archaeological evidence of regular transport in the Neolithic/Bronze Age between the two sites?

Cheers,
TE.